Globe Amaranth
QIS Purple Gomphrena is a compact, open-pollinated accent flower that brings vivid purple globe-shaped blooms to gardens and flower arrangements from summer through frost. Growing 18 to 28 inches tall, this cultivar thrives in hardiness zones 10-11 and reaches peak flower production in 85 to 100 days from seed. Its tidy habit and prolific blooming make it equally at home in garden beds or the cutting bucket, offering gardeners a reliable source of long-lasting flowers for fresh and dried arrangements.
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Moderate
10-11
28in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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Purple globe flowers crown sturdy, compact plants that bloom prolifically once established, producing flowers in color within 85 to 100 days. The blooms hold their vivid hue whether fresh or dried, making this variety as valuable to the cutting gardener as to the ornamental border. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, transplant after danger passes, and watch this frost-tender annual reward you with flowers until the first hard freeze.
QIS Purple Gomphrena shines as both a fresh and dried cut flower. Harvest blooms when they're in full color but not yet fully open for fresh arrangements, or wait until they've completely opened to dry them by hanging in a warm, airy space. Its compact growth habit also makes it an excellent choice for garden bedding, where the purple globes provide continuous color throughout the growing season.
Sow seeds into 72-cell flats or preferred seedling containers 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Cover seeds lightly with 1/8 inch of growing media. Maintain soil temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. Transplant seedlings into garden beds after hardening off and once all danger of frost has passed.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outside after the last frost date, spacing them 6 inches apart. Choose a location in full sun. Ensure soil is warm and frost danger has completely passed before setting plants out, as they are frost-tender and will not survive cold snaps.
Direct seeding is not recommended for this variety; indoor seed starting followed by transplanting produces the most reliable results.
For fresh arrangements, harvest flowers when they're in color but before they're completely open. For dried flowers, wait until blooms have fully opened, then cut stems and hang them upside down in a warm, airy location to dry completely.
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